BLOG – The John Juanda appreciation society

Monday, 4 October 2010

John Juanda is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated poker professionals in the game. You may disagree and for sure people know he’s got dem skillz but despite his consistent posting of great tournament results people fail to class him in the same league as poker’s upper echelons – I think he belongs right up there.

Let’s take a look at Juanda’s 2010 – he kicked things off with a fourth place finish in the $50,000 Players’ Championship 8-game at the World Series of Poker before following that $436,865 score up with a $100,000 fifth place finish at the $10,000 Stud 8 championship just nine days later. Three days after that he receives $80,000 for finishing fourth at the $10,000 NL 2-7 Draw championships and ten days later comes third to Phil Ivey in the $3,000 HORSE for $130,000.

On the summer’s Bank Holiday weekend, Juanda was in Manila for the Asian Poker Tour and he took down the $9,600 High Roller event for $45,000 before coming to London – where he won the 2008 World Series of Poker Europe, I might add – and making it to the EPT final table second in chips.

The man is a consummate professional, too – humble and quiet both on and off the felt but a short conversation proves he knows his poker. Hell, look at that WSOP – five final tables in two poker variants plus an eight-game and five-game rotation event. In total he’s accrued $790,000 in winnings this year which contribute towards his $10.5m in total tournament earnings – should he take down the EPT London he will overtake Phil Hellmuth on the all-time money list to take third place.

Oh, and between 2004 and 2008 he had three, count ‘em, three million dollar years. In tournaments alone – heavens knows how he tears it up in live mixed cash games but I’d bet a chunky wedge that he crushes.So good luck to JJ – I’m now off to rail and report.

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